FDC CARRYING THE UGANDA OPPOSITION'S FLAG

BREAKING MUNTU PRESIDENTIAL BID BARRIERS FOR NOW AND THE FUTURE...

Pronounced militarization of the Ugandan opposition political parties started with the rise and growth of Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) as a party. Soldiers now play the game of politics in a more democratic environment.

More so, at the level of having to contest for presidency -without bullets shoot-outs at each other. Before president Museveni's came to power, politics was about armed confrontation. The country used to have popular political parties entirely resting on the foundation of armed wings.

Now, it is barely that, but rather, exercising of human rights and democracy to achieving positive national outlook. FDC has showed that they have more concern for national building and character than just individual interests and merits.

Members, whose individual interests tended to overshadow national ones have automatically been filtered out. The unfavored ones by change would, as they did try, create commotion. However, as exercised, it is the party's relentless duty to settle conflicts -as they emerge to help it progress.

Opportunists today still create an atmosphere -where people have to take any chance to personal achievement. Of all parties in Uganda, FDC gives the greatest optimism and chance to many ambitious people.

People, now, have to come out boldly to sow in such a fertile party, as FDC. Democratic Party (DP), well, has the kind of ambitious members, but only at a Uganda Young Democrats (UYD) level. Beyond that, the party ceases. But, also, their activities (for UYD) are only felt in central region.

It is FDC that has turned out to be the biggest challenger to the ruling National Resistance Movement/Organization (NRM/O). With most political parties agreeing a partnership with it, the challenge could turnout to be in its favor.

But, their membership and substance of the partners must, of course, be encouraging and credible enough to meet the challenge. A political party, for example, whose partners have membership constituting only the national executive, could add less to the final result, yet expecting more during power sharing.

In bid to sharpening its winning edge, FDC already shows progress through re-organizing internal structures, as well as, creating and consolidating a healthy partnerships with its allies.

It is, on the positive note, already rejuvenating itself in preparation for political contests some where in 2011 –as observable from its activities like election of new leaders and effectively dealing with member indiscipline.

However, unlike in the United States, where political party contests feature candidates engaging themselves in heated debates on domestic and foreign policy, FDC has strangely made it a gentleman's game.

Contestants like Mugisha Muntu hesitates to say Kizza Besigye's weaknesses as maybe his own strength. He, instead, sweet-talks about everything surrounding the party -including Besigye and himself. Perhaps being party's mobilization secretary fixed him that way. He might have got used to promoting party positives, from which he could be rewarded.

It is interesting to note also that even from the name, Muntu – meaning people; one could add some sense to a statement like, “holder of the name puts people first and other things second”. Incidentally, also, names tend to speak something about people.

Knowledge of and respect for each other, makes it easy for Muntu to take a chance and add something to his curriculum vitae, as becoming party president and later on head of state. It is time, actually, for members to show their ambitions and subsequently challenge for them.

As a gentleman, who respects everyone and works around positives, curious people may find it hard to see him attack Besigye's personally. Instead, they will see him work for positive party developments, as he too explores the heights, along. That, however, would look odd to Besigye's fans, who fancy tough-taking and fearless-talking characters.

But, when Besigye first emerged to contest against the ruling NRM/O, there were people, who immediately said no; on grounds that he sounded rough, violent, just angry for some reasons and, as person seeking revenge. They argued that he could be a worse dictator than the one (incumbent). As a result, they preferred to stick-up with the ruling party.

Truly, there can be positives in alternatives that are sometimes greater than previous choice (s). Muntu, for example, could create another dimension to attract more people from the NRM/O including those, who for long were opposed to Besigye's personality. And the end could mean political disaster for the politically unhealthy NRM/O membership; then, characterized by defections. And, in turn, lead to success of the opposition flag bearer, FDC.

As for FDC, some members and sympathizers may find it unbearable to keep losing every general elections, and feel re-organization within the party ensues to increase likelihood, hope, enthusiasm and confidence that the party will take power in forth-coming elections. Such attributes have gone down over time.

However, previous opinion polls only focused on measuring popularity of the ruling party as compared to others (opposition political parties). Unless they had in mind a view that party president and political party were inseparable, it would be great if they specifically gave figures showing popularity overtime of party presidents in their respective political parties, as well. This is so because a political party might be popular but lose due to unpopular party president and vice-versa.

At the beginning and, as expected, building a Muntu character and member acceptance, would be itself challenging. But creating a campaign strategy that is intended to reduce uncertainty and fear among those curious about his candidature, would be key for him (Muntu). Here, fear de-toxicating messages, would be massively advertised or popularized, like Weasel and Moze's songs are now -for now and in the future.

With leadership and almost everything getting militarized for various reasons like building electorate confidence and hope that they would be secure under such arrangement as military option, when head of state is of that background in an African country -with “stubborn” people and hard-to-tame generals like Uganda. Muntu, too, could offer that.

In fact, it is the military component and advantage that gives FDC a better ground than other parties in such an African political setting compared to non-military presidential candidates. This is the arrangement for Uganda at such an age of or level of maturity for democracy.

In terms of success-rate and commodity marketability, FDC proves that better, especially being at a more national-level field-play -with gentlemen and democratic leaders, yet of military backgrounds. No wonder, it is the leader of the opposition in Uganda.

Within such a person in Muntu, it would not be reasonable for FDC members, who insecure and fear change. Surely, for now and in the future, they all have to open-minded and only give each contestant a platform -on which to offer new developmental plans for the party and nation. Fear of the unknown in the face of a good plans and leaders should never arise, at such a time when political changes are becoming fashionable.

And, since FDC values change (C), as derived from the abbreviation, members too should reflect realities for change, democratically. Not walking the talk that has been a cancer in Uganda's political parties could stop. Why would they want some other people to go -leave presidency when themselves do not encourage it within their political party?

The opposition political parties have for long claimed to struggle for democracy, yet within them was hell. Some parties, like Conservative Party (CP) have not had democratic change for a long time. Instead, it was a coup d'etat by a junior official against the senior one (Lukyamuzi Ken and Mayanja-Nkangi, respectively).

Like in the corporate world, job openings would prompt an organization or company to advertise them in search for suitable candidates. And, again as expected, every interested person would apply to serve in that institution or organization.

FDC is like such organizations advertising political positions and Muntu is one of those interested in taking a role and as many will in the future, as party president president. That is good for him as for other contestants for various party positions. The nation will only watch to see who comes in to serve it.

However, it is interesting to note that at this level, a party as young as FDC has capacity to ensure internal discipline, and maybe; the same would manifested when they come to power. But they say power corrupts and does so absolutely. Ugandans will just wait and see.

Technically pruning-off un-helping characters successfully -without another or bigger crisis within, was a surprise. Such and continued show of national character, could do well for FDC in terms of success.

Successfully going through the current transition stage, under similar show of good political discipline could mean well for Ugandans and stake-holders. It, eventually, could be flag-bearer to meaningful democracy and citizenship in Uganda. And the much hard-to-get faith from the electorate too could be attained, and perhaps other political parties might learn from progressive FDC.

Waiswa Jacob
Situation Health Analyst
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com